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From Godwin Tsa, Abuja
A Federal High Court in Abuja ordered African Action Congress (AAC) presidential candidate and online publisher Omoyele Sowore to enter a defence in his ongoing trial for the alleged criminal defamation of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
In his ruling yesterday, Justice Mohammed Umar rejected a request by his counsel, Marshall Abubakar, that further hearings in the case be adjourned until after the court’s forthcoming vacation.
The judge ordered that further hearing in the case be conducted daily, beginning on Friday, when the defendant shall be obliged to open his defence.
Sowore is being prosecuted by the Department of State Services (DSS) for allegedly making false claims against President Bola Tinubu by calling him “a criminal” in posts he made on his X and Facebook accounts.
When the case was called on Thursday, the prosecuting lawyer, Akinlolu Kehinde, SAN, said the case was fixed for 4 June to receive the Chief Judge’s response to a 19 May 2026 letter from Sowore requesting that the case be assigned to another judge.
Kehinde said he was served on 26 May with a copy of the Chief Judge’s response, dated 22 May, in which the defendant’s request was declined, and the court was ordered to continue hearing the case.
He then applied for the judge to order the defendant to enter his defence.
In response, Abubakar claimed that a portion of the Chief Judge’s response directed the defendant to file a formal application so that it could be heard in open court.
Abubakar urged the court to adjourn the case until after the forthcoming vacation to enable his client to participate in next year’s presidential election.
In reply, Kehinde faulted Abubakar’s interpretation of the Chief Judge’s response, stressing that the case before the court had nothing to do with political activities in the country.
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Kehinde said: “The letter from the Chief Judge of this court did not ask the defendant or his counsel to file an application for recusal. So, it is disingenuous for counsel to read into the letter an interpretation that the Chief Judge did not include in the letter.”
Following a disagreement between both lawyers over the content of the Chief Judge’s response, Justice Umar called for a copy of the letter and read through it, after which he declared Abubakar wrong.
Justice Umar said: “From the content of the letter, there is nowhere the defendant is asked to file an application before this court.
“This court is not denying the defendant the right to file any application. This can be done anytime before judgment.”
The judge said the current stage of the case merely required the defendant to enter his defence. Thereafter, the judge ordered Sowore to enter his defence.
He also ordered that hearings in the case proceed daily, in line with the provisions of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA).
Following the judge’s order, Abubakar sought an adjournment until after the court’s vacation for the defendant to open his defence.
Again, Kehinde objected, noting that having ruled and ordered a daily hearing, the ruling of the court was in consonance with the law.
He stated, “The law is that the defendant shall proceed with his defence. There is no option. We are ready. There is no room for dilatory practice for defendant facing a criminal trial.”
The prosecuting lawyer added that “the option left at this point is for the defence to continue or simply be foreclosed. It is either they continue or they are foreclosed.”
The judge subsequently adjourned until 5 June for the defendant to open his defence.
